Foldable Wagon

ABSTRACT

A foldable wagon has a frame with vertical members arranged at four corners of the frame. Each vertical member has an upper bracket, a lower bracket, and a sliding member slidingly disposed on the vertical member between the upper and lower brackets. The frame has first bottom members with inner ends pivotally connected together with a first bottom connecting member and outer ends operatively and pivotally connected to a respective sliding member. The frame has second bottom members with inner ends operatively and pivotally connected together with a second bottom connecting member and outer ends being operatively and pivotally connected to a respective lower bracket.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No.17/024,836 filed Sep. 18, 2020, which claims the benefit of ChineseUtility Model Application Ser. No. CN 202020396371.7, filed on Mar. 25,2020, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

This disclosure pertains to hand-drawn wagons. More particularly, thepresent disclosure pertains to a hand-drawn wagon that is collapsible ina manner such that the wagon basically has the same vertical height whenin the collapsed and expanded configurations so that the volume of thewagon when in the collapsed configuration is relatively smaller incomparison to conventional foldable wagons thereby allowing the wagon tobe stored in a minimal amount of space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary wagon in its expandedconfiguration.

FIG. 2 is perspective view of the wagon of FIG. 1 as it is being alteredfrom its expanded configuration to its collapsed configuration.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the wagon of FIG. 1 in its collapsedconfiguration.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the wagon of FIG. 1 in its expandedconfiguration.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the wagon of FIG. 1 as it is beingaltered from its expanded configuration to its collapsed configuration.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the wagon of FIG. 1 in its collapsedconfiguration.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the wagon of FIG. 1 in its expandedconfiguration.

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the wagon of FIG. 1 as it is beingaltered from its expanded configuration to its collapsed configuration.

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the wagon of FIG. 1 in its collapsedconfiguration.

FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view of the wagon of FIG. 1 in its collapsedconfiguration.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the wagon of FIG. 1 in its collapsedconfiguration.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the wagon of FIG. 1 in its collapsedconfiguration.

FIG. 13 is a left side view of the wagon of FIG. 1 in its expandedconfiguration with a liner, stiffening panel, and lower shelf shownexploded.

FIG. 14 is a front elevation view of the wagon of FIG. 13 with theliner, stiffening panel, and lower shelf assembled with a frame of thewagon.

FIG. 15 is a rear elevation view of the wagon of FIG. 13 with the liner,stiffening panel, and lower shelf assembled with a frame of the wagon.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the wagon of FIG. 13 with the liner,stiffening panel, and lower shelf removed for ease of illustration.

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the wagon of FIG. 13 with the liner,stiffening panel, and lower shelf removed for ease of illustration.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an exemplarywagon in its expanded configuration.

FIG. 19 is a side elevation view of the wagon of FIG. 18 in its expandedconfiguration.

FIG. 20 is a front elevation view of the wagon of FIG. 18.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the wagon of FIG. 18 in its collapsedconfiguration.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a frame of another embodiment of anexemplary wagon comprising a double-decker wagon in an expandedconfiguration;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the double-decker wagon of FIG. 22 asit is being moved between an expanded configuration and a foldedconfiguration; and

FIG. 24 is perspective view of the double-decker wagon of FIG. 22 in afolded configuration.

Reference numerals in the written specification and in the drawingfigures indicate corresponding items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of a collapsible wagon 20 is shown in FIGS. 1-17. Asecond embodiment of a collapsible wagon 120 is shown in FIGS. 18-21.Referring to the wagon of FIGS. 1-17, the collapsible wagon 20 comprisesa frame 22, a plurality of wheels 24, a tow handle 26. The collapsiblewagon may include a pliable liner 28 with a stiffener panel 30, and mayinclude a bottom shelf or container 32 that is arranged below thepliable liner (all shown FIGS. 13-15).

The frame 22 of the wagon 20 is generally rectangular with a pair offolding bar assemblies 42 on each side of the frame, and four verticallyoriented poles 40 at the intersection of one pair of folding barassemblies of one side of the frame with another pair of folding barassemblies of an adjacent, transverse side of the frame. As shown inFIGS. 1-17, the folding bar assemblies may be scissor bar assemblieswhereas FIGS. 18-21 show a variation of folding bar assembliescomprising the left and right sides of the frame, as will be discussedbelow. Each folding bar assembly 42 of the pair of folding barassemblies of a side of the frame preferably comprises a single pair ofcrossed bars that are pivotally joined to each other to form a scissorbar assembly. Each scissor bar assembly of the pair of folding barassemblies 42 of a side of the frame 22 has left and right upper legends and left and right lower leg ends. To form a pair of scissor barassemblies of the side of the frame, the right upper leg end of onescissor bar assembly is connected with left upper leg end of the otherscissor bar assembly, and the right lower leg end of one scissor barassembly is connected with the left lower leg end of the other scissorbar assembly. Thus, one scissor bar assembly is connected end to endwith another scissor bar assembly to form the pair of folding barassemblies 42 for the side of the frame. The pair of folding barassemblies 42 of each side of the frame have opposite upper leg outerends 44, that is, the right upper leg end of one folding bar assemblyand the left upper leg end of the other folding bar assembly in the pairof folding bar assemblies of the side of the frame. The pair of foldingbar assemblies 42 of each side of the frame have opposite lower legouter ends 46, that is, the right lower leg end of one folding barassembly and the left lower leg end of the other folding bar assembly inthe pair of folding bar assemblies of the side of the frame. As istypical with most folding bar assemblies, each folding bar assembly 42is adjustable between an expanded configuration and a collapsedconfiguration. The upper leg ends of each of the folding bar assemblies42 are closer to the corresponding lower leg end when the said foldingbar assembly is in the expanded configuration (as shown in FIGS. 1,4,7)as compared to the collapsed configuration (as shown in FIGS. 3, 6, 9,10). Similarly, the upper leg ends of each of the folding bar assemblies42 are closer to each other when the folding bar assembly is in thecollapsed configuration as compared to the expanded configuration.

The upper leg outer end 44 of each of the pair of folding bar assembliesmay be operatively connected to the vertically oriented pole 40. Forinstance, a connector 48 may be fixedly mounted on the top or distal endof the vertically oriented pole, and the upper leg outer end 44 may beconnected to the connector with a pivot pin. The connector 48 may beconfigured to connect the vertically oriented pole 40 with both theupper leg outer end 44 of a folding bar assembly of one side of theframe and the upper leg outer end of another folding bar assembly of anadjacent transverse side of the frame. The lower leg outer end 46 ofeach of the pair of folding bar assemblies may be operatively slidinglyconnected to the vertically oriented pole 40. For instance, a slidingconnector 50 may be arranged below the upper leg outer end connector 48to slide on the vertically oriented pole 40, and the lower leg outer end46 may be connected to the sliding connector 50 with a pivot pin. Thesliding connector 50 may be configured to slidingly couple thevertically oriented pole 40 with both the lower leg outer end 46 of afolding bar assembly 42 of one side of the frame and the lower leg outerend of another folding bar assembly of an adjacent transverse side ofthe frame.

When the wagon 20 is in the expanded configuration, each of the lowerleg outer ends 46 of the pairs of folding bar assemblies 42 has a firstdistance D1 to each of the corresponding upper leg outer ends 44 of thepairs of folding bar assemblies along the respective vertically orientedpoles 40. The first distance D1 may be different for each upper leg andlower leg outer end but is generally preferably roughly the same. As thewagon is altered from the wagon's expanded configuration to the wagon'scollapsed configuration, the lower leg outer end 46 of each of the pairof folding bar assemblies 42 slides downward (and away) relative to thecorresponding upper leg outer end 44 of the pairs of folding barassemblies on the respective vertically oriented pole 40. So, when thewagon is in the collapsed configuration, each of the lower leg outerends 46 of the pairs of folding bar assemblies 42 is at a seconddistance D2 to each of the corresponding upper leg outer end 44 of thepairs of folding bar assemblies along the respective vertically orientedpoles. The second distance D2 may be different for each upper leg andlower leg outer end but is generally preferably roughly the same. As theframe is altered from the expanded configuration to the collapsedconfiguration, the pairs of folding bar assemblies 42 increase in heightand decrease in length. The second distance D2 of each of the respectiveupper and lower legs outer ends 44,46 is greater than the first distanceD1 of each of the respective upper and lower legs outer ends. Similarly,as the wagon is altered from the wagon's collapsed configuration to thewagon's expanded configuration the lower leg outer end 46 of each of thepairs of folding bar assemblies 42 slides upward (and toward) relativeto the corresponding upper leg outer end 44 of the pairs of folding barassemblies on the respective vertically oriented pole 40. As the frameis altered from the collapsed configuration to the expandedconfiguration, the pairs of folding bar assemblies 42 decrease in heightand increase in length. In view of the arrangement of the folding barassemblies 42 on the sides of the frame, the sliding motion of each ofthe lower leg outer ends 46 on the vertically oriented pole 40, and thefixed positioning of each of the upper leg outer ends 44 on thevertically oriented pole, the frame has the same vertical height VH whenthe wagon is in the collapsed configuration as when the wagon is theexpanded configuration. And as described below in greater detail, thetelescopically arranged tow handle 26 and downward motion of theconnecting bars 60 from the tow handle to the frame also allows thewagon as a whole to have the same vertical height when the wagon is inthe collapsed configuration as when the wagon is the expandedconfiguration.

The frame 22 of the wagon 20 also preferably comprises a collapsiblebottom support assembly 54. The bottom support assembly 54 preferablycomprises four bars 56 that are each operatively pivotally connected toa central hub 58 and extend therefrom. Each of the four bars 56 is alsopivotally connected to the frame 22 adjacent to a bottom end portion ofa respective one of the vertically oriented poles 40. As the wagon 20 iscollapsed, the central hub 58 moves upward. The central hub 58 ispreferably configured to limit the extent to which the bars 56 can pivotrelative to the central hub, such that central hub cannot be moved lowerthan being in plane with the bars 56 of the bottom support assembly 54when in the expanded configuration of the frame. Thus, when the wagon 20is in its expanded configuration, the bottom support assembly 54 iscapable of supporting a downward acting load. Thus, the liner 28 neednot carry the entire load of cargo placed in the wagon 20. The liner 28may be spaced from the bottom support assembly 54, and a shelf 32 orcontainer (not shown) may be removably mounted on the bottom supportassembly 54. Because the central hub 58 is preferably configured tolimit the extent to which the bars 56 can pivot relative to the centralhub, such that central hub cannot be moved lower than being in planewith the bars 56 of the bottom support assembly 54 when in the expandedconfiguration of the frame, the shelf 32 or lower container need notcarry the entire load of cargo placed in the wagon.

Each of the wheels 24 of the wagon 20 is operatively attached to thelower portion of the frame 22 adjacent to a bottom portion of therespective one of the vertically oriented poles 20. Preferably, the twowheels 24 nearest the tow handle 26 are able to pivot about verticalaxes that swivel in addition to being able to rotate on their horizontalaxles. The other two wheels 24 preferably do not pivot about a verticalaxis (do not swivel) but rotate about their horizontal axles.

The tow handle 26 preferably comprises two telescopically attachedsections. The telescoping tow handle 26 is preferably operativelyconnected to the lower portion of the frame adjacent two of thevertically oriented poles 20 via two connecting members 60. Each of theconnecting members 60 has a first end portion that is operativelypivotally connected to the bottom end portion of the respectivevertically oriented pole 40, and an opposite second end portion that ispivotally connected to the telescoping tow handle 26. Each connectingmember 60 is configured to extend downward in a sloped manner from theframe adjacent to the bottom portion of the respective verticallyoriented pole 40 to the telescoping tow handle 26 such that the secondend portions of the connecting members move downward relative to thebottom end portions of the vertically oriented poles as the wagon 20 iscollapsed. When the wagon 20 is collapsed, the telescoping tow handle 26can also be collapsed such that it does not extend above the frame 22 ofthe wagon.

The pliable liner 28 of the wagon 20 rests inside the frame 22 when thewagon is expanded and forms the open-top interior compartment of thewagon. Each upper corner of the pliable liner is removably attachable tothe top portion of a respective one of the vertically oriented poles 40.The pliable liner 28 may also comprise a plurality of flaps (not shown)having looped fasteners (such as Velcro®) that extend downward from thebase of the pliable liner. The flaps may be used to secure the base ofthe pliable liner to the bars 56 and the central hub 58 of the frame 22.The pliable liner may include a pair of inverted pockets and a pliablefabric handle. The inverted pockets may be configured to receive thetop-center portion of each of the side folding bar assemblies 42 forsupporting the pliable liner 28 from the frame 22. The fabric handle maybe configured to allow the center portion of the pliable liner 28 to bepulled upward which may in turn cause the pliable liner to pull upwardon the bottom support assembly 54 of the frame 22 of the wagon 20. Thepulling force moves the central hub 58 of the bottom support assembly 54of the frame 22 upward and collapses the wagon 20 with a minimal amountof effort.

The pliable liner 28 may include the stiffening panel 30. The stiffeningpanel 30 may fit at the bottom of the liner and help hold the frame inthe expanded configuration. When it is desired to alter theconfiguration of the frame from the expanded configuration to collapsedconfiguration, the stiffening panel 30 may be removed. When provided,the shelf 32 or lower container below the pliable liner 28 may besimilarly configured. When it is desired to alter the configuration ofthe frame from the expanded configuration to collapsed configuration,the stiffening panel of the lower container or the shelf 32, asapplicable, may be removed.

The wagon may also be provided with a cover that is configured toprotect the wagon when the wagon is in its collapsed condition. Thecover may also reduce the likelihood that things will get snagged on thewagon when the wagon is in storage. The cover may include a pocket forholding the stiffening panel 30, and the bottom shelf 32 or the lowercontainer stiffening panel, when the wagon is in its collapsedcondition. The stiffening panel on the pliable liner 28, and the lowercontainer as applicable, may be comprised of four adjacent panels thatare wrapped in fabric in a manner such that the stiffening panel can befolded like an accordion. When unfolded, the stiffening panel 42 can beplaced in the bottom of the interior compartment of the wagon 20. Thestiffing panel 30 helps distribute loads of any cargo being carried inthe wagon 20 more evenly to the bottom support assembly 54 of the frame22 and prevents the components of the bottom support assembly from beingfelt by children riding in wagon. The stiffening panel of the lowercontainer and/or the shelf may be similarly constructed.

FIGS. 18-21 show an alternate embodiment of a wagon 120 utilizing adifferent configuration of folding bar assemblies 142 on the left andright sides of the wagon. The embodiment of the wagon in FIGS. 18-21 mayinclude scissor bar assemblies 42 as previously described on the frontand rear sides of the frame of the wagon. The embodiment of the wagon inFIGS. 18-21 may include a collapsible bottom support assembly 54 aspreviously described. The wagon of FIGS. 18-21 may include a tow handle26, wheels 24, liner 28, shelf 32, and/or stiffening member(s) 30 asdescribed previously.

Each of the left and right sides of the frame of the wagon of FIGS.18-21 comprises a pair of folding bar assemblies 142 that include a pairof crossed bars 180,182 that are pivotally joined to each other, and alinkage 184. Each pair of crossed bars 180,182 of the folding barassembly of the pair of folding bar assemblies of the left and rightsides of the frame has left and right upper legs and left and rightlower legs. Each pair of pivotally connected crossed bars of the foldingbar assembly has a long bar 180 and a short bar 182. The long bar 180 ofeach pair of crossed bars in the folding bar assembly has an upper legouter end 144 operatively coupled to the vertically oriented pole 40. Asdescribed previously, the connector 148 may be fixedly mounted on thetop or distal end of the vertically oriented pole 40, and the upper legouter end 144 of the long bar 180 of the crossed bars may be connectedto the connector with a pivot pin. The opposite inner ends of the longbars 180 of the crossed bars of the pair of folding bar assemblies 142may be pivotally connected together. That is, making reference to theorientation shown in FIG. 19, the right lower leg end of the long bar180 of the crossed bars of the left folding bar assembly 142L ispivotally connected with the left lower leg end of the long bar 180 ofthe crossed bars of the right folding bar assembly 142R. The short bar182 of each pair of crossed bars in the folding bar assembly 142 has alower leg outer end 146 operatively coupled to the vertically orientedpole 40. As described previously, the sliding connector 150 may bearranged below the upper leg outer end 144 to slide on the verticallyoriented pole 40. The opposite ends of the short bars of the pairs ofpivotally connected crossed bars of the pair of folding bar assembliesmay be pivotally connected with the respective linkage 184. That is,making reference to the orientation shown in FIG. 19, the right upperleg end of the short bar 182 of the crossed bars of the left folding barassembly 142L is pivotally connected with linkage 184 of the leftfolding bar assembly, and the linkage 184 of the left folding barassembly extends to the long bar 182 of the crossed bars of the rightfolding bar assembly 142R. Again, making reference to the orientationshown in FIG. 19, the left upper leg end of the short bar 182 of thecrossed bars of the right folding bar assembly 142R is pivotallyconnected with linkage 184 of the right folding bar assembly, and thelinkage 184 of the right folding bar assembly 142R extends to the longbar 180 of the crossed bars of the left folding bar assembly 142L.

When the wagon 120 of FIGS. 18-21 is in the expanded configuration, eachof the lower leg outer ends 146 of the pairs of folding bar assemblies142 has a first distance D1′ to each of the corresponding upper legouter ends 144 of the pairs of folding bar assemblies along therespective vertically oriented poles 40. The first distance D1′ may bedifferent for each upper leg and lower leg outer end but is generallypreferably the same. As the wagon is altered from the wagon's expandedconfiguration to the wagon's collapsed configuration, the lower legouter end 146 of each of the pair of folding bar assemblies 142 slidesdownward (and away) relative to the corresponding upper leg outer end144 of the pairs of folding bar assemblies on the respective verticallyoriented pole 140. So, when the wagon is in the collapsed configuration,each of the lower leg outer ends 146 of the pairs of folding barassemblies 142 is at a second distance D2′ to each of the correspondingupper leg outer end 144 of the pairs of folding bar assemblies along therespective vertically oriented poles. The second distance D2′ may bedifferent for each upper leg and lower leg outer end but is generallypreferably the same. As the frame is altered from the expandedconfiguration to the collapsed configuration, the pairs of folding barassemblies 142 increase in height and decrease in length. The seconddistance D2′ of each of the respective upper and lower legs outer ends144,146 is greater than the first distance D1′ of each of the respectiveupper and lower legs outer ends. Similarly, as the wagon is altered fromthe wagon's collapsed configuration to the wagon's expandedconfiguration the lower leg outer end 146 of each of the pairs offolding bar assemblies 142 slides upward (and toward) relative to thecorresponding upper leg outer end 146 of the pairs of folding barassemblies on the respective vertically oriented pole 140. As the frameis altered from the collapsed configuration to the expandedconfiguration, the pairs of folding bar assemblies 142 decrease inheight and increase in length. In view of the arrangement of the foldingbar assemblies 142 on the sides of the frame, the sliding motion of eachof the lower leg outer ends 146 on the vertically oriented pole 140, andthe fixed positioning of each of the upper leg outer ends 144 on thevertically oriented pole, the frame has the same vertical height VH′when the wagon is in the collapsed configuration as when the wagon isthe expanded configuration. And as described below in greater detail,the telescopically arranged tow handle 26 and downward motion of theconnecting bars 60 from the tow handle to the frame also allows thewagon as a whole to have the same vertical height when the wagon is inthe collapsed configuration as when the wagon is the expandedconfiguration.

FIGS. 22-24 show another embodiment of a wagon comprising a foldable,double-decker wagon. As will become evident from the description thatfollows below, the double-decker wagon of FIGS. 22-24 is convenient tofold, has a large storage space, and is convenient to store and carry.The frame 200 of the wagon of FIGS. 22-24 shares many of the features ofthe wagons of FIGS. 1-21, but includes a double decker type support.Similar reference characters will be used to denote similar structuresamong the embodiments of the Figures. As shown in FIGS. 22-24, whenfolded, sliding members of the double-decker wagon slide, two decks ofstorage platforms are folded, and the double-decker wagon is finallyfolded into a bundle. The double-decker wagon is convenient to fold, hasa large storage space, and is convenient to store and carry.

The exemplary double-decker wagon is provided with vertical members 240arranged at four corners of a frame 200 of the wagon. Each of thevertical members 240 is provided with an upper bracket 248, a slidingmember 246 and a lower bracket 257. The frame has first bottom members272 with inner and outer ends. The inner ends of the first bottommembers 272 are operatively pivotally connected to each other via afirst bottom connecting member 270. The outer ends of the first bottommembers 272 are operatively pivotally connected to the sliding member250. When the frame 200 is in the expanded configuration, the slidingmember 250 and the outer ends of the first bottom members 272 aregenerally in a middle region of the respective vertical member 240 at afirst distance Di from the upper bracket 248. When the frame 200 is inthe folded configuration, the sliding member 250 and the outer ends ofthe first bottom members 272 are generally toward a lower region of therespective vertical members 240 at a second distance D₂″ from the upperbracket 248, which is greater than the first distance D₁″. The frame 200also includes second bottom members 256 with inner and outer ends. Theinner ends of the second bottom members 256 are operatively pivotallyconnected to each other via a second bottom connecting member 258. Outerends of the second bottom members 256 are operatively pivotallyconnected to the lower brackets 257 of each of the vertical members 240at the bottom of the frame.

Preferably, the frame 200 includes folding assemblies 242 between theadjacent vertical members, which may be similar to the embodimentsdescribed previously. For instance, as shown in the drawing the foldingmembers 242 may be arranged in the manner described previously in FIGS.1-17. The folding assemblies 242 includes one or more crossed members.Preferably, the left and right sides of the frame include foldingassemblies 242 with two sets of first and second cross members. On theside cross member folding assemblies 242, an outer end of each 244 firstmember of the side crossed members is preferably rotatably connectedwith the upper bracket 248, and an outer end of the second member 246 ofthe side crossed members is preferably rotatably connected with thesliding member 250. On the side cross member folding assemblies 242, aninner end of the first member of one of the side crossed member foldingassemblies is connected with an inner end of the second member of theother of the side crossed member folding assemblies. Preferably, twosets of folding assemblies 242 are arranged between the adjacentvertical members 240 on the left and right sides of the frame 200, andpreferably, one set of folding assemblies 242 is arranged between theadjacent vertical members 240 at the front and rear sides of the frame.

Preferably, a pull rod 26 is provided on the front side of the framebetween the vertical members. The pull rod may be operatively pivotablyconnected with the vertical members.

Preferably, a folding tailgate 290 is provided on the rear side of thevertical members 240. Preferably, the folding tailgate 290 has members292 that are operatively pivotally connected with the lower bracket 257of the rear vertical members 240. Preferably, the folding tailgate 290has over center linkages 294 that are operatively rotatably connectedwith the vertical members 240 and the tailgate members 292. The foldingtailgate 290 is configured to provide an additional storage platform tostore long items.

When the frame 200 of the double-decker wagon of FIGS. 22-24 is folded,the first bottom connecting member 270 is pulled upwards, so that thevertical members 240 approach each other while the sliding members 250slide downward along the vertical members. The first bottom members 272and the second bottom members 256 rotate, so that the first bottommembers and the second bottom members are folded and contracted amongand adjacent to the vertical members 240, thus allowing the frame 200 ofthe double-decker wagon to be folded into a bundle.

The frame 200 of the double decker wagon of FIGS. 22-24 includes atleast two decks of storage platforms, that is, a middle deck and thelower deck, supported by the vertical members 240. The middle deck orstorage platform comprises the first bottom members 272 and the firstbottom connecting member 270. The first bottom members 272 are angledfrom the vertical members 240 toward the center of the wagon. The innerends of each of the first bottom members 272 are operatively androtatably connected with the first bottom connecting member 270, and theouter ends of the first bottom members 272 are operatively and rotatablyconnected with a respective sliding member 250. When the first bottomconnecting member 270 is pulled upward for folding of the frame 200, theother components of the frame move inward accordingly along with thefirst bottom connecting member. The frame also includes a lower deck orstorage platform that comprises the second bottom members 256 and thesecond bottom connecting member 258. The second bottom members 256 areangled from the vertical members 240 toward the center of the wagon. Theinner ends of each of the second bottom members 256 are operatively androtatably connected with the second bottom connecting member 258, andthe outer ends of the second bottom members 256 are operatively androtatably connected with the lower brackets 257 adjacent the bottom ofthe frame and the vertical member 240. In the embodiment of thedouble-decker wagon shown in FIGS. 22-24, there are two decks of storageplatforms, which allow the user to store many articles. These articlescan be classified and stored in the two decks. The lower storageplatform can be folded synchronously and simultaneously with the middlestorage platform.

When the first bottom connecting member 270 is pushed down and thevertical members 240 move away from each other, the components of theframe 200 extend accordingly outwards, and the two decks of storageplatforms of the double-decker wagon are unfolded. The foldingassembly(ies) 242 arranged between the adjacent vertical members 240fold or unfold along with the movement of the vertical members 240. Asmentioned above, the folding assembly(ies) 242 may include cross memberswhich are intersected with each other and a first member and a secondmember of the crossed members which are rotatably connected at thecenter of the intersection with the first member rotatably connectedwith the upper bracket 248, and the second member is rotatably connectedwith the sliding member 250. Different sizes and different numbers offolding assemblies may be provided according to the length or width ofthe double-decker wagon to meet the folding effect of double-deckerwagons of different sizes, for instance, as shown in the embodiment ofthe wagon in FIGS. 18-21.

It should be noted that, relational terms such as first and second aremerely used to distinguish a member from another member and do notrequire or imply that there are any such actual relationships orsequences between the members. It should also be understood that whenintroducing elements of the present invention in the claims or in theabove description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, the terms“comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be open-endedand mean that there may be additional elements other than the listedelements. Additionally, the term “portion” or “region” should beconstrued as meaning some or all of the item or element that itqualifies. Moreover, use of identifiers such as top, bottom, front,back, left, right, inner, outer, first, second, and third should not beconstrued in a manner imposing any relative position or time sequencebetween limitations. Still further, the order in which the steps of anymethod claim that follows are presented should not be construed in amanner limiting the order in which such steps must be performed, unlesssuch and order is inherent.

As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methodsherein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of theinvention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoingdescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of thepresent invention should not be limited by any of the above-describedexemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with thefollowing claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

1. A foldable wagon comprising a frame, the frame adapted and configuredto be moved between an expanded configuration and a foldedconfiguration, the frame comprising vertical members arranged at fourcorners of the frame, each of the vertical members having an upperbracket on one end of the vertical member, a lower bracket on anopposite end of the vertical member, and a sliding member slidinglydisposed on the vertical member between the upper and lower brackets,the frame further including first bottom members, each of the firstbottom members having inner ends and opposite outer ends, the inner endsof the first bottom members being operatively and pivotally connectedtogether with a first bottom connecting member, the outer ends of thefirst bottom members being operatively and pivotally connected to arespective sliding member, the frame further including second bottommembers, each of the second bottom members having inner ends andopposite outer ends, the inner ends of the second bottom members beingoperatively and pivotally connected together with a second bottomconnecting member, the outer ends of the second bottom members beingoperatively and pivotally connected to a respective lower bracket. 2.The wagon according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes at least onefolding assembly between adjacent vertical members, the at least onefolding assembly comprises crossed first and second members, the firstmember of the folding assembly is operatively and pivotally connectedwith a respective upper bracket, and a second member of the foldingassembly is operatively and pivotally connected with a respectivesliding member.
 3. The wagon according to claim 2, wherein one foldingassembly is arranged between the adjacent vertical members at front andrear sides of the frame.
 4. The wagon according to claim 3, wherein twofolding assemblies are arranged between the adjacent vertical members onthe left and right sides of the frame.
 5. The wagon according to claim1, further comprising a pull rod, the pull rod being operatively andpivotally connected with the vertical members on a front side of theframe.
 6. The wagon according to claim 1, further comprising a foldabletailgate, the tailgate being operatively and pivotally connected withthe vertical members on a rear side of the frame.
 7. A wagon that isadjustable between an expanded configuration and a collapsedconfiguration, the wagon comprising: a frame, the frame having foursides, each side being formed by a pair of folding bar assemblies, thepair of folding bar assemblies of each side of the frame having oppositeupper leg outer ends and opposite lower leg outer ends, the frame alsohaving a vertically oriented pole at an intersection of the pair offolding bar assemblies of one side with the pair of folding barassemblies of an adjacent transverse side, the upper leg outer end ofeach of the pair of folding bar assemblies being operatively connectedto the vertically oriented pole, the lower leg outer end of each of thepair of folding bar assemblies being operatively slidingly connected tothe vertically oriented pole, wherein when the wagon is in the expandedconfiguration, each of the lower leg outer ends of the pairs of foldingbar assemblies has a first distance to each of the corresponding upperleg outer ends of the pairs of folding bar assemblies along therespective vertically oriented poles, wherein when the wagon is in thecollapsed configuration, each of the lower leg outer ends of the pairsof folding bar assemblies has a second distance to each of thecorresponding upper leg outer end of the pairs of folding bar assembliesalong the respective vertically oriented poles, the second distance ofeach of the respective upper and lower legs outer ends is greater thanthe first distance of each of the respective upper and lower legs outerends, the frame further comprising a collapsible bottom supportassembly, the bottom support assembly comprising a central hub and fourbars, the four bars are each operatively pivotally connected to thecentral hub and operatively pivotally connected to the bottom endportion of a respective one of the vertically oriented poles, the framefurther comprising a collapsible upper support assembly, the uppersupport assembly comprising a central hub and four bars, the four barsare each operatively pivotally connected to the central hub andoperatively pivotally and slidingly connected to a respective one of thevertically oriented poles.
 8. The wagon according to claim 7 whereineach folding bar assembly in the pair of folding bar assembliescomprises a single pair of crossed bars pivotally connected to eachother.
 9. The wagon according to claim 7, wherein one folding assemblyis arranged between the adjacent vertically oriented poles at front andrear sides of the frame.
 10. The wagon according to claim 7, furthercomprising a pull rod, the pull rod being operatively and pivotallyconnected with the vertically oriented poles on a front side of theframe.
 11. The wagon according to claim 7, further comprising a foldabletailgate, the tailgate being operatively and pivotally connected withthe vertically oriented poles on a rear side of the frame.
 12. A wagonthat is adjustable between an expanded configuration and a collapsedconfiguration, the wagon comprising: a frame, the frame having foursides, each side being formed by a pair of folding bar assemblies, thepair of folding bar assemblies of each side of the frame having oppositeupper leg outer ends and opposite lower leg outer ends, the frame alsohaving a vertically oriented pole at an intersection of the pair offolding bar assemblies of one side with the pair of folding barassemblies of an adjacent transverse side, the upper leg outer end ofeach of the pair of folding bar assemblies being operatively connectedto the vertically oriented pole, the lower leg outer end of each of thepair of folding bar assemblies being operatively slidingly connected tothe vertically oriented pole, the frame being configured and adaptedsuch that as the wagon is altered from the wagon's expandedconfiguration to the wagon's collapsed configuration, the lower legouter end of each of the pair of folding bar assembly slides downwardrelative to the corresponding upper leg outer end of the pairs offolding bar assemblies on the respective vertically oriented pole, andthe pairs of folding bar assemblies increase in height and decrease inlength, the frame being configured and adapted such that as the wagon isaltered from the wagon's collapsed configuration to the wagon's expandedconfiguration the lower leg outer end of each of the pair of folding barassembly slides upward relative to the corresponding upper leg outer endof the pairs of folding bar assemblies on the respective verticallyoriented pole, and the pairs of folding bar assemblies decrease inheight and increase in length; the frame further comprising acollapsible bottom support assembly, the bottom support assemblycomprising a central hub and four bars, the four bars are eachoperatively pivotally connected to the central hub and operativelypivotally connected to the bottom end portion of a respective one of thevertically oriented poles, the frame further comprising a collapsibleupper support assembly, the upper support assembly comprising a centralhub and four bars, the four bars are each operatively pivotallyconnected to the central hub and operatively pivotally and slidinglyconnected to a respective one of the vertically oriented poles.
 13. Thewagon according to claim 12 wherein each folding bar assembly in thepair of folding bar assemblies comprises a single pair of crossed barspivotally connected to each other.
 14. The wagon according to claim 12,wherein one folding assembly is arranged between the adjacent verticallyoriented poles at front and rear sides of the frame.
 15. The wagonaccording to claim 12, further comprising a pull rod, the pull rod beingoperatively and pivotally connected with the vertically oriented poleson a front side of the frame.
 16. The wagon according to claim 7,further comprising a foldable tailgate, the tailgate being operativelyand pivotally connected with the vertically oriented poles on a rearside of the frame.
 17. The wagon according to claim 12 wherein the pullrod is telescopically collapsible.
 18. The wagon according to claim 12wherein the central hub of the bottom support assembly allows each ofthe four bars of the bottom support assembly to pivot downward therefromand prevents the four bars from pivoting upward therefrom beyondhorizontal.
 19. The wagon according to claim 12 wherein the central hubof the upper support assembly allows each of the four bars of the uppersupport assembly to pivot downward therefrom and prevents the four barsfrom pivoting upward therefrom beyond horizontal.
 20. The wagonaccording to claim 12 wherein the frame has a same vertical height whenthe wagon is in the collapsed configuration as when the wagon is theexpanded configuration.